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“For this is what the Lord says – he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited – he says: I am the Lord, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:18 (NIV) 

We already touched on God’s creation of man, Adam, the first man. God formed Adam from dust and breathed life into him and he became a living creature. Then God planted the Garden of Eden as a home for Adam. Just reading the description of Eden brings images to mind that it was a beautiful, lush place. But really, I think even our images in our mind cannot come close to truly imagining the beauty of it. And then God felt Adam needed a helper so He performed the first surgery. 

“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And from the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:21-23

God created Adam and Eve and He put them in this beautiful garden where they could have lived forever if they had not eaten of that fruit. But they did eat the fruit and that caused the fall and sin entered the world. Yet even though that happened, God still blesses us and still created ways for humanity to continue. Women have pain in childbirth, yes. I went through it a couple of times myself. But the miracle that comes from God creating a baby in the womb of a mother, well it may be one of God’s greatest miracles. 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 

If you have ever gazed upon a newborn baby with their sweet soft skin and tiny fingers and toes you are viewing a miracle of God. The first man came from dirt, the first woman came from man. But God created the miracle of birth and He gave man and woman the great gift of being a part of it. Also look at the diversity that God as creator does through people. I have three sisters and while we have similarities, we also have our own unique looks, and thoughts and feelings. I have two sons and they are alike in some ways but different in so many ways. I have 3 grandchildren, one is still safely tucked in her mother’s womb for just a few more days we hope, but I find myself wondering what she will look like. Will she look like her sister or will she favor her brother more? What will be unique about her? What will be similar?  

That is just the diversities within a family. What of the diversities of people all around us? Today, I want to be intentional of looking at people as the miracle God intended us to be. Look at the differences as miracles, the different colors and shades of our skin, the different colors of eyes and hair. We are all different in size, shape and body type. Our Elohim, the God of creation is an amazing creator to be able to make each and every one of us as individual and unique as we are. Look into faces today and praise the creator of those faces, if you get the opportunity look at a newborn baby and praise Him ~ Elohim! 

I have read this first chapter of Genesis more times than I could ever count. But today I am asking God to show it to me with fresh eyes! As I was reading there were a few things I noticed this time, that I’m not sure I’ve ever taken note of before. 

First of all, have you ever thought of the fact that it says in verse 2 the earth was without form and void. It is so hard to imagine it and maybe we aren’t really supposed to be able to. But the bottom line is God, our creator, created the earth out of nothing. Now I am a creative. I love to paint, I’ve always been a little crafty and sometime I can hit it on the mark and sometimes whatever I am doing looks like a hot mess. I am a seamstress and sometimes I do well and sometimes I mess things up. But the thing is, I have to start with something. I can’t just make something of nothing. But God can. That’s what He did, He made the earth of nothing. 

The next thing I noticed was there were some things God just spoke into being and there were some things He made. 

“And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:3

That was the first day. 

“And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. Genesis 1:6-7

That was the second day. 

On the third day: 

“And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.” Genesis 1:9

“And God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.’ And it was so.” Genesis 1:11

On the fourth day, God spoke into being the lights in the sky, the sun, the moon and the stars. That are the signs for our seasons and they give us light day in and day out. And we found out yesterday he actually numbered those stars when he set them in the sky and calls them out by name. 

Then the fifth day, God created sea creatures and birds and He set them into the sea and the sky and He told them to multiply on the earth and fill the waters. 

And on the sixth day, God made the animals and the livestock and the insects. Have you ever really looked at all the animals and thought of how creative God is to have created the giraffe and the elephant and a dog and a cat. But still on the sixth day ~ 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” Genesis 1:26

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them…” Genesis 1:27-28

God spoke many things into being, he made many things but God created man in his own image. Wow! And when you flip over to Genesis 2 in verse 7 he actually gives a little detail into how He did it. 

“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7 

When God made Adam, the very first man, He actually breathed His very breath into Him to bring Him to life.

God created this earth and the sun, moon and stars, the sea creatures, the birds of the air, the livestock, the animals, the ants, the bees and insects and man in a six days. But the one that we get the most detail and that actually got the breath of God breathed into him was man. God spoke some things into being, He made things, but He formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. And He did it in His own image. 

I hope that hits you like it has hit me. It inspires me. It makes me sit in awe of Him and in awe of the desires that He has put inside of me. It makes me understand why when I am creating I actually feel a little closer to God. My Elohim, the God who created me. 

I am going to be doing a study on some of the names of God. I have often heard someone pray or teach and they could call on the names of God at just a thought of whatever was the circumstance at the time and I have wished I knew what each name meant and where it was in scripture and could have recall like that. I will be using a little book by Wendy Blight called “I Know His Name” for my study along with God’s word of course, and I will start with studying the names that she has outlined.

This week we will study Elohim, the God who creates us. This is pronounced el-o-heem. It turns out that this is the first name of God mentioned in the Bible. When we read Genesis 1:1 we see God, but in the original Hebrew language the word for God was Elohim. 

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

The word el is a generic word for god. Notice the little g. Therefore it is plural as in God as well as other gods but when you add im to the end of the generic name it makes the word plural. But when Elohim is used in the Bible it is always used with a singular verb. This signifies one God, not many gods. But this one God is a triune God. You know God in three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Our God is unique in that He is a God of unity as well as a God of diversity in His nature. He is the only God who has the name Elohim, He has many attributes and characteristics not just one. 

To quote Wendy in her book: 

“Though the exact meaning of Elohim is not known, the name itself incorporates the idea of strength and power and speaks to the supremacy of God as He reveals Himself though His creation.” 

I think it is fitting that as I start this study I am sitting on my porch watching a beautiful clear sunrise over the lake. While my favorite sunrises have a few clouds in them. On this clear morning I am seeing creation wake up and I can’t help but praise Him who created this place, this earth, this world, that we get to live in temporarily. I have often on vacations to the mountains looked out and said “how can people not worship God who could create all of this?” I have sat on a beach and watched the waves come and go and marveled at the power of God. Have you looked at creation like that lately? I can’t say I do every day, but I want to. I am better about it now because I have the advantage of living in a place that has beautiful sunrises and sunsets by just walking out on my porch. But I can’t say that I have always looked at things that way. When I lived in the city and my neighbors were so close I could hear their cars crank up and hear their voices if they were outside I didn’t always go out and look at creation quite the same way that I do here. I would have to remind myself to go look. Sometimes when I felt so hungry for God I would ask Him to show me something beautiful. And He always did. I would always notice something that I may not have noticed had I not been intentional about asking God to show me. Today when you look at creation, praise the creator of this creation. In the beginning He created these, the heavens and the earth, and He is still painting us beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Tonight when the stars come out go out and look up and know that our God put those stars in place. 

“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” Isaiah 40:26

Have you ever thought about that? He puts them out one by one and He actually calls them out by name. Look up and think how pretty those stars but be sure you praise the one who put them in place. Elohim! 

Reading: Matt. 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-49, John 20:1-33

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”Matthew 28:5-6 ESV

On Sunday morning the women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome went to prepare Jesus body for burial. They had laid him in the tomb on Friday but because of sabbath the body had not been properly prepared. As they were going they wondered how they would roll away the stone. But when they arrived the stone was already rolled away. Matthew mentions a great earthquake and the angel sitting on the stone. I cannot imagine walking up to the tomb and seeing the stone rolled away, the angel sitting on top of the stone and the tomb was empty. 

The guards had passed out when all of this happened. The angels appearance was like lightening and his clothing was bright white. Have you ever been blinded by the morning sun? I think this was even brighter than that so that they were having to shield their eyes. 

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified, He is not here, for he has risen as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.’” Matthew 28:5-6

Can you imagine that? Being the first people to have heard the news. The most glorious news that He was indeed alive! I hope you are experiencing the risen savior today. The tomb is empty. And because of that we have reason to rejoice and place our hope in Jesus, the resurrected savior! 

He’s Alive! 

Reading: Matt. 27:59-61, Mark 15:46-47, Luke 23:56, John 19:40-42

“Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56 ESV

Not a lot was said about Saturday of Holy Week. It was the Sabbath so they had to get Jesus into the tomb on Friday and roll the stone over the tomb and wait until Sunday. Not much was said so we just have to think for ourselves, how were the disciples feeling? How was the Roman soldier, who as soon as Jesus breathed his last breath realized “this man was surely the son of God”, feeling? Have you ever had a sleepless night that you just kept thinking “How can this be?” I think the disciples probably did not sleep a lot. The world was quiet. They were probably together. We know most of them were on Sunday anyway. They probably sat around and rehashed some of the events of the previous days thought “how did we get here?” “What could we have done to stop this?” I just think in my human flesh that is what I would be thinking. I keep thinking of the following passage.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation” Psalm 42:5

They didn’t know it yet but all Hope was not lost. It’s not lost for you and me either. Sunday’s coming! 

Reading:  Matt. 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:50, John 18:28-19:37

What’s so good about it? I’ve often wondered where in the world did someone come up with Good Friday if this is to represent the day Jesus was crucified? In today’s reading, the chief priests and the elders delivered Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified. Before that Jesus was beaten, mocked, spit on and humiliated by the soldiers. The term used is scourged. The soldiers would take a whip that had shards of glass or sharp rocks tied on the ends of it. They would hurl it at Jesus’ body and when it would hit Him it would tear the flesh right off of Him as they pulled the whip back. They blindfolded Him and kept asking him to prophesy who was hitting Him. They twisted together a crown of thorns and pressed it on His head. 

When He was delivered to Pilate he questioned Him and could not find fault in Him. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod to be questioned because he thought then he would not have to make this decision. Pilate realizes that Herod is not going to decide for him and Jesus is brought back to him to decide. It was a custom to release one prisoner to the Jews during the time of Passover. Pilate, because He found no fault in Jesus offered up a criminal Barabbus. I think he offered Barabbus because maybe that was the most hardened criminal he had and he thought there was no way they would choose to release Barabbus over Jesus. This was his out. However the crowd chooses for Barabbus to be released. Pilate then washes his hands in front of the crowd and says His blood is on you. (Matt 27:24)

Meanwhile the very same people who had shouted Hosanna just days before were now shouting crucify him. They led Jesus away, He had been beaten, scourged, whipped, humiliated, the crown of thorns were pressed onto His head and He was nailed to a cross to die the most painful death imaginable. 

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:50-51 ESV

I have often when reading this passage thought of God taking his holy hands and grasping the curtain to the temple and ripping it from top to bottom. This curtain is the curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was where Gods presence dwelled. The high priest could only enter the Most Holy Place one day a year. And now the veil was torn from top to bottom. On that day, at that time, the veil was torn so that we could now approach the throne of God forevermore. 

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV

 Reading: Matt. 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62 and John 13:1-38 

A lot happened on this day. The day started with the disciples asking 

Jesus where they would eat the Passover meal. Jesus sends them ahead with specific instructions who to talk to and where to go. They follow his instructions and they are led to an upper room of a house and there they prepare the Passover meal. Again can you imagine all of the emotions of Jesus as they sit down for this meal? This meal that is so symbolic to them. Most of us know that the Jews observed this Passover to symbolize when they marked their door posts with the blood of the lamb so that the Lord would spare their first born from death on the eve of the Exodus from Egypt. This was a very important ritual to them and it held many symbols of their faith. 

They had sacrificed a lamb without blemish to enjoy at their meal with each other. Yet Jesus knows that He is about to be the sacrificial lamb for the world. Can you imagine sitting and eating with the one you knew was about to betray you? Jesus even washed the feet of the very person He knew was about to betray Him. (John 13:2-5,12-14) 

He has this meal with His closest friends. The chosen twelve. He washed their feet and He foretold His death. They broke the bread and He told them “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Lk 22:19) He took the cup of wine and said “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Lk 22:20). Then after the meal they sang praises and they set out to the Mount of Olives so that Jesus could pray. 

Jesus was in anguish while praying. He asked the Father to take this cup from Him if possible. God didn’t take the cup from Him but He did send Him an angel to strengthen Him. (Lk 22:43). And then He was betrayed. The soldiers came. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss no doubt. And then one of the last recordings of Jesus words on this Thursday is “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. ”Matthew 26:56 ESV.  

Jesus understood what was happening but His disciples did not. What started out as a good day was ending very dark and confusing to them. They began the day pledging their allegiance to Him and ended it by them fleeing Him probably in fear for their own lives as well as confusion about who Jesus said He was and how this was unfolding. Even though Jesus had given them glimpses of what was going to happen they couldn’t understand this. This was not how they envisioned it. This was not how they would have done it. The one they have followed and loved and believed was being handed over to be put on trial and the sentence was going to be crucifixion. I wonder when they realized that was going to happen. Was it when He was arrested? Or did the news come to them little by little. When Pilate asked the crowd didn’t they want Jesus to be released instead of Barabbus, were the disciples standing there dumbfounded that the crowd, that had just days earlier been waving palm branches were now yelling “Crucify Him”? When that rooster crowed and Jesus turned and looked at Simon and Simon came face to face with his own failure and disappointment in himself, did they think it was all over? I wonder. 

Reading: Matt. 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11 and Luke 22:3-6

Wednesday of Holy Week was a dark day. There is not much recorded. The only sources I have had me read the short passages listed above. We will look at Luke. 

“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.” Luke 22:3-6 ESV

I have been known to say to myself as well as to others. “sometimes things get worse before they can get better.” Well things are beginning to get worse. Even if behind the scenes at the moment. Jesus rode in on Palm Sunday on a donkey to shouts of Hosanna. He became angry in the temple and drove out the moneychangers, then He had a full day of teaching in the temple. Now one of his followers, one of his own people are about to betray him. For money no less. So where was Jesus? On this day when Judas is meeting with the chief priests to make a deal? We wonder where Jesus was. One of the commentaries I read suggested that He was resting because the day before had been such a full day. Taking a time out so to speak. Passover was coming and with it would come His last meal with His people before He would be betrayed and handed over. And whipped and beaten. And crucified. What a roller coaster of emotions this Holy Week must have been for Him. 

This brings to mind 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Take note of the way Luke is describing this ~ “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot”. You know Judas was a friend to Jesus. He was there for the miracles. He was there for the camaraderie that must have existed among this group of men who travelled and ministered together. He would have been there when fish and bread multiplied and pigs plunged to their death and when Lazarus walked out of a grave alive when he had been dead for three days already. But still Satan found a way in to him. He let his guard down somewhere and Satan entered into him so that he could betray Jesus, his friend.

 I tend to feel my emotions a little all over the radar during this week and this season. For the past few years I really like to take the time to focus on the week and just think about what was happening in the world at that time and what is happening in my world in the present. What emotions was Jesus having that week? He was spending time with the people closest to him. All the while He knew what was coming. When I think about what was coming for Him AND that He knew, I realize that I probably don’t always need to know. I will think I do. I will drive myself crazy about what is coming next in whatever situation that is at hand. When what I need to do is just keep clinging to the One who knows. The one who is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). I think we are called to be diligent, be sober minded, to realize we have an adversary and he does prowl the earth and he does want to devour us. But God is still in control. He is still here. He is on the throne and even when we can’t see Him. He is working all things out for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28].

Reading: Matt. 21:23-24:51, Mark 11:20-13:37, Luke 20:1-21:38, John 12:20-38 

On Monday Jesus was running the merchants out of the temple and on Tuesday He was back in the temple teaching. This was Jesus last day to teach in the temple before his death and He packed it full. I was thinking this may be what it’s like for the person who gets the terminal diagnosis who has so many things to tell their people. Jesus taught so many parables on this day. The reading is a bit more extensive but He had so much to tell us on this teaching day. One thing that 3 of the gospels hit was this one. 

“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?  Matthew 21:42 ESV

Jesus being the cornerstone is also mentioned in Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:17

Jesus knew that He was about to be rejected and turned over to be crucified. He knew that His days of earthly ministry were coming to a close and this was one of his final messages to the people. To us! They would have known that the cornerstone of a building is the foundation that the entire building is built on. The cornerstone is the rock that the entire structure rests. Jesus is the rock that our entire Christian life should rest. This was the week that all of the rituals and the sacrifices would be fulfilled. Jesus was telling them that even though He would be rejected by them that He is the cornerstone. He is what our faith life, the church and all that is good is built on. He is what I want my life to be built on. My hope is built on nothing less.

I didn’t write as much today. Please choose at least one of the scripture passages and read what the Lord had to say on this day!

Reading: Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, 

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-13

I have seen and heard that this event could have happened on Sunday or Monday of Holy Week. The most important thing is it is a significant event that took place during this Holy Week. So it definitely bears studying. When I read the book of Matthew it appeared it happened on Sunday following the Triumphal Entry. However, in Mark it reads as if it was Monday. 

Jesus enters the temple and begins to drive people out of the temple who were buying and selling goods. God intended for the temple to be a place of prayer, a place where we go to cleanse our hearts. The temple of the Old Testament was the place where the people came to get atonement for their sins. Yet somehow over time, it had become a place where people could sell their goods and merchandise. Where was the breakdown? When did things change from the house of prayer to a marketplace. No doubt Jesus knew before He entered the temple that this was taking place, it was no surprise to Him when He stepped foot inside. However, He takes this time to get angry, to point out to the people that this was not the intended use for the temple. Jesus words “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” In Mark, the quote of Jesus was more complete and lines up more directly with the reference to Isaiah 56:7. “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.?” (Mark 11:17) This area of the temple was for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. And it was as far as the Gentiles could go inside the temple. Because of the activity going on in the temple, there was no way that the people could come in and pray.

It is also important to note that he was just as angry at those who were buying as He was at those who were selling. It matters the state of our hearts when we go to the house of God. Yes, the leaders of our churches as well as the Jewish leaders of the day bear a load of maintaining a holy reverence in our churches. However, Jesus didn’t look at the buyers as innocent. The same goes for today. I have heard someone say to me once that they left a church because they were not being “fed”. And it may have been true, it is not my place to judge. However, it is also our responsibility to be sure that our hearts are in a place to be fed when we enter the church doors. The buyers are just as guilty as the sellers. Let’s examine our hearts today. Let’s look and see the state of our hearts as we study this Holy Week. The cool thing about studying the scriptures is He has a word for each of us that will meet us right where we are. As you read the scriptures use this as a guide but ask Him what He wants to teach you today. What He wants to teach you this week.